Opinions please???

[kubmech]

I am seriously considering a career change. However I know after working on tractors and equipment for 15+ years and enjoying it as much as I have, I'm worried that I will miss it. In fact that's a given, I know I will miss it. All the tools and knowledge I have acquired over the years will end up parked in the garage. I am considering taking on restoration, repairs, used tractor evaluations etc. in my spare time. Do you guys think that there is a market for a guy that may not be able to drop what he is doing for a few days to run out and take care of a problem without frustrating the customer. I'm trying to be realistic and get a feel for what someone would expect. Of course the advantage would be a greatly reduced labor rate (from what your dealer charges, due to low overhead) and good quality service when available. Over the years I have had plenty of offers for "side work" from customers and always declined due to my values as an employee. With the exception of close friends and family I don't have alot of experience dealing with these matters on this level. I would really appreciate any and all comments, good, bad, even brutal if necessary.

Thanks,
Kubmech

 

[JerryG]

Kubmech,
If your area is like mine, you would have more work than you could do. A good mechanic, at realistic cost would be great. I know that you could make more an hour than at your dealer. But you would also have more costs. Your truck, gas, insurance, small parts and the ever-dreaded slow paying customer.

 

[njrqs]

Kubmech

I think if you charged for all your valued answers here alone, you could be a rich man /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I left a secure government job to run my own business.

Like you, I left to work in the same field as I was eomplyed in, and therefore had the contacts, the knowledge etc.

I have never regretted it and it has been 6 years.

The issue of lack of holidays, working nights etc. always is a problem, but at least you reap what you sow.

Even if you end up working big hours, if it is at home, it never feels so bad.

I endure constant frutration at the poor level of service offered by most places these days. My tractor mechanic works for himself in a run-down little place without the frills of the big dealers etc.

But he knows his stuff and can always get me what I need.

I think there is a market for knowledge and service and this should not come at the expense of big names a bright lights.

Now if only I could teleport my tractor to you, we'd could have a deal !!!

Cheers

 

[wroughtn_harv]

For some folks being self employed is the only way to go. I happen to be one of them.

I say "go for it."

When the subject of jobs come up I have a saying.

"Why would I want one? Everyone I know who has one hates it."

But don't offer your services for less than the dealer. You will find out over time that rate is just about what it takes to get by and put a little back.

One of the problems with having a business is all those who jump out there and try to compete by charging less. One goes down the tubes just about the time another starts up. So it is a constant fact you have to deal with the whole time you're in business.

The customers? If they come for price then do you really want them to begin with? Everyone wants a deal. It's human nature. So give them the best quality service for the same rate others give them rotten service.

That way when they recommend you they're doing it because you're good and not because you're cheap. Your mama told you about acting cheap and the kinds of folks that attracts.

 

[jhburke]

You would need to let your customers know up front about the possibility of being unavailable sometimes. I just took on a job of clearing a fence row. I told my client that due to my health I would clear it as soon as I could. Meaning that some days I am good for only about an hour and other days I can work six or seven hours. I never know when. This is because I am still recovering from bypass surgery.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...So give them the best quality service for the same rate others give them rotten service.

That way when they recommend you they're doing it because you're good ...</font color=blue>

I agree... Absolutely.... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Boondox]

In my area (northern VT), a fellow could supplement his income pretty well doing that...but I'm not sure he could make a living at it.

One thing I would gladly pay a premium price for would be a mechanic who came out and showed me how to do things. Like the 400 hour service. It was a bit too involved for me the first time around, but with a teacher doing the work and me taking notes (and maybe photos) my confidence would have skyrocketed.

Pete

 

[dummy]

For me, aggravation sets in when someone says I'll be there first thing Monday and then they show Tuesday, Wed..... and want to know why you no longer need them and get mad at me! Biggest downside is of course, insurance. Health, life, self employment, sales,etc..... But go for it. I prefer not to grow older and wish I would have done _____. A good mechanic can always get a job.

 

[Golfgar4]

As I progress through my research for buying a tractor, one of my biggest concerns is knowing I'll have solid maitenance support. Naturally, that means that I consider one of the big 3 dealers that are local.

But as I keep reading about the wide range of machines that are available, the grey market and/or the Chinese tractors (and I shouldn't forget Kioti!) are very attractive. However, I have not found any dealers within a reasonable distance.

So my solution would have to be to find a good, dependable mechanic that I could trust to get the parts and do the work. If I were able to do that, then I might more seriously consider some of these other tractors.

IMHO, I think if it were known that you could service just about any brand of tractor, you'd probably be beating the customers away with a big stick! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[MikePA]

kubmech, I agree with the other posts that mention not charging less than the hourly rate charged at a dealer. I would be more than willing to pay dealer rates for better customer service. While there is additional overhead built into the dealer rates, you will need that to cover your fixed costs which will not be spread out over multiple employees nor will you get volume discounts a dealer would. I'd love to see an independant tractor mechanic in my area. Perhaps you could be a mobile mechanic (there was someone on TBN a while ago who did this...maybe it was an auto mechanic). Another idea would be to devote certain days of the week or days of the month to in-shop repairs, another to restorations, and another to evaluations. Except for emergencies, this would allow you to give someone a date and time and, for the most part, be there. As a customer, I understand when emergencies happen or a job takes longer than aniticpated, all I want is a call with an explanation and a new date and time. My wife has worked in dentists offices for the past few years as a dental assistant. Her observations of 3 different dentists is (1) They were never trained as small business owners (2) they don't know how to deal with personnel issues and (3) Invariably try to jam as many appointments into the schedule as possible, using the least amount of time for each procedure. Therefore, when a procedure runs long or there's an emergency, there's no slack in the schedule to absorb this. So, patients end up waiting or they have to be rescheduled and the staff, along with the dentist, gets to work longer.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>… other posts that mention not charging less than the hourly rate charged at a dealer…</font color=blue>

For example… Assuming… if Kubmech is getting paid $18./hr. and not flat rate/percentage, with the dealer getting say $58./hr… we have a $40./hr. overhead/profit margin/reinvestment $ for the dealership.

Now, a normal person if given a choice (without knowing Kubmech) would go straight to the dealership for service if choosing between identical rates. Kubmech needs a hook (for the people that don’t know him), he can charge multiple ways… say $38./hr. at his own home/shop, or let’s say the dealer gets an average of $1400. for a clutch job, Kubmech can charge a flat rate of say $950. for the same job that may take him 6 hours to split/disassemble/reassemble/test…

Let’s face it… a person is in business to make money… not friends… here you can accomplish both… /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Tractor_Barn]

I may have missed something but I didn't notice what you are considering a change to.

As for being a "self-unemployed" independent mechanic, charge the going rate. Price alone will not set you apart, customer service will.

Do not be scared off by the tax and accounting issues, they're not as complicated as the accountants want you to believe. Insurance is a must. Business liability, life and health. Check with your agent and ask about group discounts. Often discounts are available to members of credit unions, chamber of commerce, civic groups...

Get one of the popular small business accounting software packages and learn how to use it.

Now...take a deep breath, inventory your tools and put a small ad in the local paper. You'll be doing what you enjoy and having a ball.

 

[looch]

Kubmech, My very good friend is a contract mechanic. He finds a place that is fairly stable (right now it's a small, long-haul trucking company) and then does miscellaneous jobs here and there to fill in the holes. He also owns a small farm where he currently keeps sheep, hogs, and chickens. We don't talk about money with each other, but he seems to be doing quite well - living simply and within his means. He's done work for me, but we always trade (labor or goods) rather than use money - I imagine I'm not the only one who deals with him this way.

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Kubmech

My brother in law has always done carpentry, and is an avid hunter/fisherman. Every customer is warned up front that if the job isn't done by opening day of deer/fish/small game/turkey season, it will be delayed by a few days. Everybody seems to accept it. Small towns can be pretty easy that way. Frankly, if the dealer wanted $200.00 to do something in a week and I could save $20.00 by having you do it in 2 weeks, guess who just got the job.

SHF

 

[kubmech]

Thank you to all that responded to my questions. Much of what you guys said makes good sense to me and I really appreciate it. I'm not going to go into all the details. I have updated my profile, which may explain a little better where I'm coming from. Thanks again.

Kubmech

 

[knucklehead]

Art, thank you for the tips and advice you have given us on TBN, and the patience and counsel you have personally extended to me.

Our local Kub/NH dealer sends all of their trade-ins over to one person who cleans and services or repairs them. They don't want and can't take the time away from customer's tractors. This may be an option, and I was also thinking about setup of new tractors, although there may be warranty issues that force the dealers to do that in-house.

That reference to mobile service is familiar to me, too. I think the person was servicing Ag tractors in the field (literally). I'd bet you'd be running constantly in season, in a farming area. I can also visualize you in a more suburban setting changing clips, springs, belts, and fluids, and gently reminding folks to read & heed the owner's manuals (you'd be wasting your breath with the farmers /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif). If you get along with everyone (and you seem to ), you may be able to do both. That would be a decision on what "market" you want to target.

I don't think it's a matter of finding the work at all. I have no business experience other than doing a few things here and there for folks, but I know having employees complicates things due to State & Federal regulations (tempted to rant, biting my tongue /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif). Looking 'way down the road, you may want to think about that, and how deep you want to go. Maybe you could stay small, especially if you have other sources of income (pension, etc.).

 

[jhburke]

In todays life if you give out good and prompt service. You will not suffer for lack of work. I am 65 and the hardest thing for me to do is find someone who will do what is agreed upon in a timely fashion. I realize there is exceptions but halveing been in the sales and service occupations I know that if the exceptions are few and far in between. It will be understood. I am willing to pay what is agreed but if something is found that needs to be corrected I want to be notifiedl. Sometimes money is a little tight and I want to be able to pay the bill when due. I have had bills jump as much as one third more. That makes the cheese more binding. And this old guy very unhappy.

 

[RichZ]

Kubmech, I think you should do very well as an independent mechanic. In my community, which is a farming community, most farms run older and vintage tractors and equipment, even though they are quite prosperous. We have several independent mechanics and they do very well. There is one I have used for my equipment. He is very dependable, and like you, he always gives great advice, in fact he has become a good friend of mine. If someone calls him, it is understood, that he may take a day or two, or even three to get there, but he fixes the problem for good for a reasonable price. I'm sure you will do the same.

Go for it!!!

Good luck, you'll do great!!!

 

[rocky2]

Just from what I see as your knowledgeable responses to questions, if I was still living in the Mechanicsburg area I'd travel up to use your services. How often do you get an "immediate" turnaround from the dealer anyway? Saving considerable bucks and still getting a week turnaround isn't a bad deal. Good luck in whatever path you choose.